Apparatus for manipulating rod-shaped articles



Aug. 12, 1969 D. BARDENHAGEN APPARATUS FOR MANTPULATING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 26. 1964 g- 12, 1969 D. BARDENHAGEN 3,460,687

APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Qriginal Filed Oct. 26, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 12, 1969 D. BARDENHAGEN 3,460,687

APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 26, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

POWER PowsR- m E [\gve to EWM%.QT t aim v United States Patent M US. Cl. 2l417 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for manipulating cigarettes or the like comprises a conveyor which advances cigarettes sideways and has a vertically movable discharging portion located above the inlet of a magazine which contains a floating store of cigarettes and has an outlet at a level below the inlet to discharge cigarettes into a consuming machine. The discharging portion of the conveyor moves up or down in response to changes in the upper level of the floating store so that the distances covered by cigarettes during descent into the magazine remain unchanged.

Cross-reference to related application This is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 406,334, filed Oct. 26, 1964, now Patent No. 3,371,036 granted Sept. 12, 1967.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to apparatus for manipulating rod-shaped articles. More particularly, the invention relates to manipulation of cigarettes, filter cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, cheroots, filter rods, filter mouthpieces and similar articles which, either by themselves or in combination with other rod-shaped articles, constitute tobacco-containing smokers products. The invention is particularly concerned with the feed of cigarettes or similar rodshaped articles from one or more machines which produce or assemble such articles to one or more machines for further processing of the articles, for example, from two or more cigarette machines to a single packing machine.

In the production of cigarettes, it is normally possible to deliver the output of one or more cigarette machines directly to a packing machine. As a rule, a single packing machine will be capable of receiving all cigarettes which issue from two or more cigarette machines. However, in assembling such apparatus one must consider several factors which might affect the operation or" the packing machine, of one or more cigarette machines, as well as many other variables. For example, due to reasons beyond the control of supervising personnel, the output of a cigarette machine may vary from time to time. Thus, it might become necessary to arrest or to change the speed of one or more cigarette machines at the time the operators install a fresh bobbin of cigarette wrapper tape. It is also necessary to temporarily arrest or to change the speed of the packing machine, for example, when the packing machine is clogged or when some of its component parts require minor or major repairs. The transfer assembly which delivers cigarettes from one or more cigarette machines to a single packing machine must be constructed and operated in such a way that the packing machine invariably receives a quantity of cigarettes which corresponds to its momentary operating speed, that is to say, the transfer assembly should never deliver quanti- Patented Aug. 112, 1969 ties greater than can be handled by the packing machine. It is impossible to assemble all of the cooperating machines in such a way that the operation of each machine is fully synchronized with the operation of all other machines; therefore, it is customary to provide the transfer assembly with an intermediate or floating store to act as a reserve and to allow for momentary stoppage of one or more cigarette machines and/or of the packing machine, for example, due to faulty operation or when it becomes necessary to insert a new supply of tobacco, of cigarette wrapper tape, of blanks for cigarette packs or other components. Also, it should be borne in mind that faulty cigarettes issuing from a cigarette machine are subjected to one or more testing operations to determine the presence of and to eject all defective cigarettes so that the rate at which a cigarette machine delivers satisfactory cigarettes will vary even though the machine operates at constant speed.

Summary of the invention It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel transfer assembly which may be installed between a packing machine and one or more cigarette machines and which insures that the packing machine invariably receives an exactly determined quantity of cigarettes per unit of time such as is necessary when the packing machine operates at a given speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transfer assembly between a packing machine or another machine which consumes or otherwise processes cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles and one or more cigarette machines or other machines which produce or assemble such articles, and to provide the transfer assembly with an improved floating store or magazine which serves to accommodate a variable quantity of rod-shaped articles and which thus insures that the consuming machine may continue to operate, at least temporarily, independently of the operation of the machines which produce the articles, or vice versa.

A further object of the invention is to provide the transfer assembly with a novel control unit which enables the assembly to automatically regulate the operation of the consuming and/or producing machines without necessitating any attention on the part of the operators and which can eflect such control in response to a large number of factors including manual adjustment.

An additional object of the instant: invention is to provide a transfer assembly of the above outlined characteristics and to construct the transfer assembly in such a way that articles advancing from one or more assembling or producing machines to a consuming or processing machine are protected against deformation or destruction, that such articles invariably enter the consuming machine in optimum position for further processing, and that the articles are not likely to lose their contents.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a transfer assembly wherein a single adjustment will suflice to take care of two or more factors which might influence the quantity of articles stored between the producing and consuming machines.

Briefly stated, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for manipulating cigarettes and/or similar rod-shaped articles. The apparatus comprises conveyor means for advancing a variable supply of articles from a producing station (e.g., from one or more cigarette machines) and having a discharging portion which is movable up and down, a magazine arranged to accommodate a floating store of stacked articles and having an inlet below the discharging portion and an outlet, and means for moving the discharging portion up or down as a function of changes in the upper level of the floating store.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying an assembly which is constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic section through a control unit which may be utilized in the assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a modified assembly.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus which includes two cigarette machines 30, 31 of conventional construction. The machines 30, 31 feed cigarettes to a pair of conveyors in the form of endless feed belts 13, 13a which are trained around rollers 12, 12a mounted on a vertically reciprocable carrier 9. This carrier forms part of a magazine or container 1 which constitutes an element of the improved transfer assembly. The belts 13, 13a are provided with transverse baflies 13b which define between themselves a series of compartments 130 each adapted to accommodate a predetermined number or batch of cigarettes 5. The belts 13, 13a are driven in a sense to advance the cigarettes toward a gap between the rollers 12, 12a so that such cigarettes descend by gravity into the magazine 1.

The magazine 1 comprises a fixed first portion or base 1a and a movable second portion or hood 3. The base 1a includes a vertical rear wall 2a, two parallel vertical side walls 2b, and two converging downwardly inclined base walls 2 which define between themselves an outlet 20 for discharge of cigarettes 5 to an adjustable packing machine 34, the arrow P indicating the direction in which the cigarettes are being fed on to the packing machine. The exact construction of the packing machine 34 forms no part of the present invention.

The hood 3 comprises a substantially triangular rear wall 6 which is slidable in front of the fixed rear wall 2a and two upwardly inclined converging side walls 4 the lower end portions of which are slidable along the inner sides of the fixed side walls 2b. The upper ends of the side walls 4 are located beneath the rollers 12, 12a and define the aforementioned gap serving as an inlet through which the cigarettes may descend into the chamber defined by the walls 2-2b, 4 and 6 of the magazine 1. The side walls 4 insure that the cigarettes 5 are distributed uniformly in a series of superimposed layers without gaps or free spaces save for such gaps which are due to honeycombed stacking of cigarettes. The front side of the container 1 may but need not be closed. As a rule, the stack of cigarettes accommodated in the magazine 1 fills the latter up to a level closely below the rollers 12, 12a so that cigarettes descending from the upper stringers of the bets 13, 13a, will fall through a short distance and are not likely to become damaged or misaligned. The upper level of stacked cigarettes is horizontal.

The hood 3 is movable rectilinearly between a lower end position indicated by a horizontal line 7 and an upper end position indicated by a line 8. Thus, when the lower end faces of the side walls 4 reach the line '7, the volume of the chamber defined by the magazine 1 has been reduced to a minimum. The volume of this chamber is increased to a maximum value when the hood 3 rises to the level indicated at 8. The carrier 9 is a plate-like member which is permanently or detachably connected with and serves to transmit motion to the hood 3. In addition, the carrier supports the rollers 12, 12a so that the position of the discharge ends of the belts 13, 13awith reference to the inlet defined by the hood 3 remains unchanged, regardless of the momentary position of the hood with reference to the fixed portion 1a of the magazine 1. The carrier 9 has a tapped bore which receives a portion of a threaded member here shown as a spindle 10, and this spindle is rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by a control unit 11. When the spindle 10 is rotated in a sense to lower the carrier 9, the volume of the chamber defined by the magazine 1 is decreased; on the other hand, the volume of the chamber will increase if the spindle 10 is rotated in a sense to lift the carrier 9 and hood 3 with reference to the fixed portion 1a of the magazine.

The control unit 11 is illustrated in FIG. 2. It comprises a casing 11a (indicated by phantom lines) which accommodates a composite transmission capable of rotating the spindle 10 and of thereby lifting or lowering the carrier 9, together with the rollers 12, 12a and hood 3. In order to make sure that the carrier 9 will move vertically, the apparatus comprises a pair of vertical guide rods 70 which extend into suitable apertures of the carrier. The guide rods 70 are fixed to a stationary frame member (not shown). The spindle 10 is held against axial movement and is rotatable in suitable bearings 10a. The upper end of this spindle is connected to an output bevel gear 94. A spur gear 78, shown at the top of FIG. 2, is driven by the packing machine 34 at a speed which is identical with or proportional to the speed of the packing machine. Thus, the gear 78 is the input gear of the transmission in the control unit 11 and may be driven directly by the main drive shaft of the packing machine 34 or by a separate motor whose operation is synchronized with the operation of the packing machine. All that counts is to make sure that the rotational speed of the gear 78 reflects the momentary speed (and hence the rrkllomentary cigarette requirements) of the packing mac me.

The transmission in the casing 11a of the control unit 11 is a so-called integrator transmission which can adjust the carrier 9 in response to a large number of different factors all of which will be reflected in the movement or nonmovement of the output bevel gear 94. In other words, the transmission may cause the spindle 10 to remain stationary, to rotate in a clockwise direction, or to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Consequently, the hood 3 may remain in a given position of vertical adjustment, or the hood will move up or down, depending on the number of cigarettes which are stacked in the magazine 1, on the cigarette requirements of the packing machine 34, on the output of the cigarette machines 30, 31 and/or on the exact rate at which the belts 13, 13a deliver cigarettes into the magazine 1.

The transmission in the casing 11a of FIG. 2 comprises four serially arranged bevel gear differentials which allow for five adjustments, each in response to a different factor which can influence the quantity of cigarettes in the magazine 1. These five factors include (a) changes in the operating condition of the cigarette machine 30, (b) changes in the operating condition of the cigarette machine 31, (c) changes in the operating condition of the packing machine 34, (d) changes indicated by one or more counters which actually count the numbers of cigarettes delivered by the belts 13, 13a, and (e) manual adjustments. Of course, if the packing machine 34 receives cigarettes which are delivered by three or more cigarette machines, the transmission of FIG. 2 is changed accordingly so that it will respond to six, seven or more adjustments.

The counter or counters, to be described in greater detail in connection with FIG. 3, are necessary because it is not always sufficient if the speeds of the cigarette machines 30, 31 are correlated to the speed of the packing machine 34. For example, and if the cigarette machine 30 operates at normal speed and continuously delivers to the belt 13 the same number of cigarettes per unit of time, the quantity of cigarettes delivered by the belt 13 into the magazine 1 will fluctuate because the apparatus normally comprises a testing device which tests the cigarettes issuing from the machine 30 and ejects all such cigarettes which are leaky or which are otherwise defective and should be removed from the apparatus prior to reaching the packing machine. Thus, even though the cigarette machine 30 will operate at constant speed, the number of cigarettes delivered by the belt 13 may fluctuate within a certain range and, after one or more hours of uninterrupted operation, the total number of ejected defective cigarettes might be so high that it causes unexpectedly large changes in the number of cigarettes accommodated in the magazine 1. This will explain the need for the provision of mechanisms which actually count the cigarettes entering the inlet between the rollers 12, 12a.

The first bevel gear differential comprises two coaxial bevel gears 71, 72 which are rotatable about a fixed axis (shafts 77, 79), and a third bevel gear 73 which meshes with the gears 71, 72 and is mounted to orbit about the common axis of the shafts 77, 79. Thus, the gear 73 rotates about its own axis and may orbit about the common axis of the gears 71, 72. The gear 73 is rotatable about its own axis with reference to a holder 75 which in turn may orbit about the shafts 77, 79. The holder 75 is connected with the hub of a worm wheel 74 which meshes with a worm 76. The latter is driven by the cigarette machine 30 at a speed which reflects the speed (and hence the output) of this machine. Of course, it is clear that the worm 76 may be driven by a separate motor whose operation is synchronized with the operation of the machine 30. All that counts is that the rotational speed of the worm wheel 74 should be identical with or proportional to the rotational speed of the cigarette machine 30. As a rule, the worm 76 will be driven by an extension of the main drive shaft in the cigarette machine 30. The spur gear '78 drives the bevel gear 71 which in turn drives the bevel gear 73. The latter drives the gear 72 is dependency on the rotational speed of the gear 78 (i.e., on the speed of the packing machine 34) and also in dependency on the rotational speed of the worm 76 (i.e., on the speed of the cigarette machine 30).

The second differential of the transmission shown in FIG. 2 includes two coaxial bevel gears 80, 81 and an intermediate bevel gear 82 which is driven by the gear 80 to drive the gear 81. The gear 80 is driven by the shaft 79 and the gear 81 drives a shaft 83. The gear 82 rotates about its own axis and orbits about the axis of the shafts 79, 83. Its holder 84 is connected to the hub of a spur gear 85, and this spur gear rotates at a speed which is controlled by the belts 13, 13a. In other words, the rotational speed of the gear 85 reflects the exact number of cigarettes which are actually fed through the gap between the rollers 12, 12a shown in FIG. 1. For example, the counter mechanism 85a controls the rotational speed of an adjusting motor 85b which is operatively connected with and drives the gear 85. Alternatively, the counter mechanism 85a may be replaced by a sensing device which scans the level of the uppermost layer of cigarettes which are stacked in the magazine 1. It will be seen that the shaft 83 is driven at a speed which reflects the speed of the cigarette machine 30 (worm 76), the speed of the packing machine 34 (gear '78) and the actual rate at which the belts 13, 13a deliver batches of cigarettes 5 into the magazine 1 (gear 85).

The third differential comprises a first bevel gear 86 which is driven by the shaft 83, a second bevel gear 87 driving a shaft 88 which is coaxial with the shaft 83, and an intermediate bevel gear 89 which meshes with the gears 86, 87 and is rotatable about its own axis with reference to a holder 90 which is attached to the hub of a worm wheel 91 meshing with a worm 92. Thus, the gear 89 may orbit about the common axis of the shafts 83, 88. The worm 92 is driven by the second cigarette machine 31 in the same way as described in connection with the worm 76 so that the rotational speed of the shaft 88 depends on as many as four different factors including the speed of the machines 30, 31, 34 and the exact rate at which the belts 13, 13a deliver cigarettes into the container 1.

It is to be noted here that if the spur gear is not driven, neither the shaft 79 nor the shaft 83 can turn the drive mechanism (85c, 85b), so that no reaction of torque from out of the spur gear 85 on its drive mechanism (850, 85b) will be possible. This is necessary to insure satisfactory adjustments of the hood 3. This may be achieved in a number of ways, for example, by a brake which is applied automatically as soon as the motor 85b comes to a halt, by a positive locking device which arrests the gear 85 in response to idling of the motor 8512, or by a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism of any known design.

The fourth differential comprises a first bevel gear 93 which is driven by the shaft 88, the bevel gear 94 which drives the spindle 10, a third bevel gear 95 which meshes with the gears 93, 94 and rotates about its own axis which is perpendicular to the common axis of the gears 93, 94, and a holder 96 which supports the gear 95 and is connected to the hub of a manually adjustable wheel 97. It is clear that the wheel 97 may be adjusted by a servomotor or by remote control, as long as it is capable of regulating the rotational speed of the gear 94 independently of the cigarette machines 30, 31, of the packing machine 34 and of the counter mechanism 85a. As in the case of the spur gear 85, the wheel 97 must be arrested if it is not driven, i.e., it is preferably provided with a brake, locking device, or any other known arresting means to insure that no reaction of torque from the holder 96 to the wheel 97 will be possible.

The transmission ratios of the first worm drive 74 76 which is operated by the first cigarette machine 30 and the second worm drive 91, 92 which is operated by the second cigarette machine 31 are correlated in such a way that, when the spur gear 85 is idle and. when the wheel 97 is also idle, the rotational speed of the gear 78 minus twice the rotational speed of the worm wheel 74, minus twice the rotational speed of the worm wheel 91 equals zero. Under these conditions, the rotational speed of the spindle 10 driving the hood 3 of the magazine 1 equals the rotational speed of the gear 78 minus twice the rotational speed of the worm wheel 74, plus or minus (depending on the direction of rotation) twice the rotational speed of the gear 85, minus twice the rotational speed of the worm wheel 91, plus or minus (depending on the direction of rotation) twice the rotational speed of the wheel 97.

The integrator transmission of FIG. 2 operates as follows:

In normal operation, i.e., when the rate at which the cigarettes 5 enter through the gap between the rollers 12, 12a equals the rate at which the cigarettes are discharged through the outlet 2c, the level of the stack of cigarettes in the magazine 1 remains unchanged. The gear 85 is idle and so is the wheel 97. The cigarette machines 30, 31 drive the worms 76, 92 and the packing machine 34 drives the gear 78 at such a speed that the output gear 94 does not rotate and the spindle It is idle. Thus, the hood 3 remains in a given position of adjustment.

However, if the condition of equilibrium is changed, for example, if one or more of the machines 30, 31, 34 come to a standstill, the gear 94 begins to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and causes a corresponding vertical movement of the hood 3 in such a way that the position of the hood reflects the exact level of cigarettes in the magazine 1. The operator is in a position to adjust the carrier 9 independently of the operation of the machines 30, 31, 34 and independently of the motor 8512 by manipulating the wheel 97 or by starting a motor which then orbits the holder 96 about the axis of the shaft 88.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified apparatus wherein the control unit 11 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is replaced by an electrically operated control unit 111. As in the apparatus of FIG. 1, the transfer assembly serves to regulate the level of cigarettes 5 which are stacked in its magazine 1. The hood 3 of this magazine (not shown in FIG. 2) is adjustable by a spindle 110. The apparatus comprises two cigarette machines 130, 131 and a packing machine 134. The cigarette machines 130, 131 respectively drive two tachometer generators 32, 33 of known design and the packing machine 134 drives a third conventional tachometer generator 35. The output of the generators 32, 33, 35 is fed to a bridge circuit 60 which controls a polarized relay 36. This relay 36 comprises a contact arm 36a which is maintained in a neutral (central) position but will swing upwardly or downwardly (as viewed in FIG. 3) so as to respectively connect a first conductor 37 with a second conductor 38 or a third conductor 39. The conductors 38, 39 are connected in the circuit of a reversible control motor 41 which drives a transmission 40 in the control unit 111 to thereby effect clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the spindle 111 The control motor 41 is also connected with a conductor 42 leading to one pole of a source of electrical energy. Another pole of the source is connected to the conductor 37 which is connected to the arm 36a of the relay 36. When the arm 36a contacts the conductor 39, the spindle 110 is rotated in a sense to lower the hood, and the motor 41 will cause the spindle 110 to raise the hood when the arm 36a contacts the conductor 38.

The machines 130, 131 normally deliver such quantities of cigarettes as are required by the packing machine 134 so that the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 remains unchanged. The bridge circuit 60 is then balanced and the arm 36a of the relay 36 is maintained in a neutral position in which it remains out of contact with the conductors 38, 39. The control motor 41 is idle and the hood 3 remains in a given position of adjustment.

It is now assumed that one of the cigarette machines 130, 131 is arrested or breaks down. The level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 begins to descend and the generator 32 or 33 fails to deliver electrical energy to the bridge circuit 60, i.e., the circuit 60 is unbalanced. The relay 36 then causes its arm 36a to move into contact with the conductor 39 whereby the motor 41 drives the transmission 40 in a sense to lower the hood 3. Such descent of the hood 3 is exactly proportional to the rate at which the level of cigarettes 5 in the magazine 1 descends toward the outlet 2c. If the one cigarette machine remains out of order or is intentionally arrested for an interval of time which is long enough to cause the hood 3 to descend to the line 17 shown in FIG. 1, an actuating member or trip 43 on the hood 3 closes a normally open limit switch 44 which is connected in the circuit of a reversible adjusting motor 45 (see the conductors 46, 47 in FIG. 3) for the packing machine 134. The motor 45 adjusts the speed of the packing machine 134 through a suitable transmission 48. The speed of the packing machine 134 is now reduced so that it requires a smaller quantity of cigarettes per unit of time. In other words, the requirements of the machine 134 then match the output of a single cigarette machine. The switch 44 opens automatically after a predetermined interval of time to arrest the adjusting motor 45. Once the speed of the packing machine 134 is reduced, the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 remains unchanged and, of course, the machine 134 then drives the generator 35 at a reduced speed. This balances the circuit so that the arm 36a of the relay 36 returns to its neutral position, i.e., the motor 41 is arrested and the hood 3 remains in the newly selected position of vertical adjustment.

If the operator decides to arrest the other cigarette machine or if the other cigarette machine breaks down for reasons beyond the control of the operator, the arm 36a of the relay 36 again moves into contact with the conductor 39 and the motor 41 again causes a rotation of the spindle in a sense to lower the hood 3 toward the outlet 2c of the magazine 1. Such downward movement of the hood 3 continues until the hood reaches the lowermost level 7 (see FIG. 1) at which time the trip 43 engages a normally closed second limit switch 49 which is connected in the circuit of the packing machine 134 and opens to thereby arrest the packing machine. If desired, the switch 49 may simultaneously open the circuits of the cigarette machines 130, 131. When the machine 134 is arrested, the generator 35 is also arrested and its energy output drops to zero whereby the arm 36a automatically returns to neutral position and the motor 41 is arrested.

If the operator then starts the cigarette machines 130, 131, the output of the generators 32, 33 is fed to the circuit 60 whereby the relay 36 moves its arm 36a into contact with the conductor 38 so that the motor 41 rotates the spindle 110 in a sense to lift the hood 3 at a speed proportional to the rate at which the level of the cigarette stack in the magazine 1 rises. As the hood 3 rises above the lower-most level 7, the trip 43 releases the switch 49 which closes to complete the circuit of the packing machine 134 so that the latter again receives cigarettes through the outlet 2c. The machine 134 operates at a reduced speed because of previous adjustment by the motor 45 via transmission 48 (i.e., at the time the hood 3 has descended to the level 17 shown in FIG. 1 and has actuated the limit switch 44). In other words, the packing machine 134 receives only such quantities of cigarettes as can be furnished by a single cigarette machine whereby the level of the stack in the magazine 1 rises while the motor 41 continues to lift the hood 3 at the same rate at which the quantity of cigarettes in the magazine 1 increases. This is due to the fact that the circuit 60 remains unbalanced since the generator 35 is driven at less than full speed because the packing machine 134 does not operate at full capacity.

The hood 3 continues to rise and approaches the level 17 so that the trip 43 engages the limit switch 44 which completes the circuit of the reversible motor 45 in a sense to effect an adjustment of the packing machine 134 back to normal speed. The circuit of the motor 45 is completed through conductors 46, 50, 51 and 47, and this motor operates the transmission 48 which in turn adjusts the speed of the packing machine 134. The switch 44 opens after a predetermined interval of time to arrest the motor 45 when the packing machine 134 is readjusted to operate at normal speed.

For certain reasons, the cigarette machines should operate temporarily at higher than normal speed, i.e., at a speed which insures maximum output of cigarettes per unit of time. Such adjustments of the machines 130, 131 will be necessary when the operator desires to compensate for production losses due to temporary idling of one or more cigarette machines. If the machines 130, 131 are adjusted to operate at maximum (higher-than-normal) speed, the level of cigarettes 5 in the magazine 1 rises because the packing machine 134 continues to operate at normal speed. Of course, the machines 130, 131 drive the generators 32, 33 at a higher speed whereby the equilibrium in the circuit 60 is destroyed and the arm 36a of the relay 36 connects the conductor 37 with the conductor 39 to start the motor 41. This motor rotates the spindle 110 in a sense to lift the hood 3 whereby the hood entrains the trip 43 which engages a third limit switch 52 at the time the hood rises to a level 16 indicated in FIG. 1. The switch 52 starts the motor 45 by completing the circuit of this motor through the conductors 46 and 50. The motor 45 drives the transmission 48 which in turn adjusts the packing machine 134 for maximum speed operation. The switch 52 opens automatically after a given interval of time which sufiicies to enable the motor 45 to effect adjustments of the packing machine 134.

Since this machine now operates at maximum speed, it drives the generator 35 at a speed which is high enough to balance the circuit 60 whereby the arm 36a moves to its neutral position and arrests the motor 41, i.e., the hood 3 comes to a halt in a new position of adjustment.

In the event that the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 continues to rise because the packing machine 134 breaks down or because the packing machine fails to operate at maximum speed, the hood 3 continues to move upwardly (because the generator 35 does not operate at maximum speed and the arm 36a connects the conductor 37 with the conductor 38 to complete the circuit of the motor 41 in a sense to lift the hood 3) and the trip 43 engages a normally closed limit switch 53 at the time the hood rises to the uppermost level 8 shown in FIG. 1. The switch 53 opens the circuit of the cigarette machines 130, 131 so that these machines come to a halt and the generators 32, 33 are arrested whereby the arm 36a of the relay 36 returns to its neutral position to arrest the motor 41 and the hood 3. If the packing machine 134 is now started at maximum speed, the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 begins to sink and the arm 36a connects the conductor 37 with the conductor 39 to start the motor 41 in a sense to lower the hood 3 whereby the trip 43 releases the switch 53 which closes to start the cigarette machines 130, 131. If the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 continues to descend, the trip 43 will engage the switch 52 which eifects an adjustment in the speed of the packing machine 134 back to normal. The switch 52 opens automatically after a given interval of time and the packing machine 134 continues to operate at normal speed.

In order to enable the operator to control the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 independently of the relay 36, the transfer assembly of FIG. 3 comprises manually operable means for starting the motor 41 in either direction. For example, the operator will resort to such manual adjustment in order to fill the magazine 1 to a level somewhere between the lines 16 and 17 shown in FIG. 1, or for completely filling the magazine 1 prior to arresting one or both cigarette machines. The cigarette machines might be of the type which is not provided with automatic splicing means for connecting the trailing end of a spent wrapper tape with the leading end of a fresh wrapper tape. To make sure that the packing machine 134 may operate while a cigarette machine receives a fresh supply of wrapper tape, the operator will cause the transfer assembly to fill the magazine 1, and the volume of this magazine is large enough to accommodate a supply of cigarettes which will suffice to meet the requirements of the packing machine 134 for an interval of time which is necessary to insert a fresh wrapper tape.

The manual operating means comprises two pushbuttons 55, 56. The pushbutton 55 is actuated to complete the circuit of the motor 41 through the conductors 37, 57, 58, 38 and 42 so that the hood 3 moves upwardly. The pushbutton 56 is depressed to complete the circuit of the motor 41 through conductors 37, 57, 39 and 42 whereby the spindle 110 rotates in a sense to lower the hood 3.

As explained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, it is not sufficient to synchronize the operation of the packing machine 134 with that of the cigarette machines 131i, 131 because, even if the cigarette machines deliver cigarettes at a constant rate, the belts 13, 13a will feed cigarettes at a different rate because the apparatus normally comprises testing devices which eject defective cigarettes prior to entry of such defective cigarettes into the magazine 1. Instead of resorting to automatic testing devices, an operator might from time to time remove a batch of cigarettes from the belt 13 or 13a to make spot checks in order to determine the presence of leaks or other defects. Even though the testing devices normally remove small numbers of cigarettes (as compared with the number of cigarettes issuing from the machines 134}, 131), the total number of thus removed or ejected cigarettes rises considerably when the apparatus is in use for several hours. The heretofore described parts of the transfer assembly shown in FIG. 3 cannot and do not respond to a reduction in the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 which is due to ejection of defective cigarettes or to removal of cigarettes by hand. Since a reduction in the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 (without a corresponding lowering of the hood 3) results in a greater distance through which the cigarettes must fall from the belts 13, 13a onto the stack in the magazine, it is necessary to provide means for adjusting the hood in response to such changes in the level of stacked cigarettes which are not compensated for by the heretofore described parts of the transfer assembly shown in FIG. 3. If the cigarettes were allowed to drop through a considerable distance, they would be likely to undergo deformation and at least some tobacco would escape from one or both ends of such cigarettes. Also, a cigarette could become misaligned and would eventually clog the outlet 2c.

Of course, it also happens that the operator or operators will add batches of cigarettes onto the belt 13 or 13a so that such belts deliver into the magazine 1 cigarettes at a rate exceeding the rate at which the cigarettes are delivered by the machine 130 or 131. This will take place when the operators wish to return a pile of tested cigarettes which were found to be satisfactory and can be introduced into the magazine 1 for delivery to the packing machine 134. In such instances, the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 will rise without causing a corresponding upward movement of the hood 3. This may result in direct contact between the baflies 13b and the uppermost layer of cigarettes 5 in the magazine 1 whereby the baflies might damage, smudge or destroy some cigarettes.

In order to prevent such uncontrolled rise or descent of the cigarette level in the magazine 1, the transfer as sembly of FIG. 2 comprises two electronic counters 61, 62 which are respectively installed between the magazine 1 and cigarette machines 13%, 131. Thus, the counter 61 will actually count the number of cigarettes which are discharged by the belt 13, and the counter 62 counts the number of cigarettes which are discharged by the belt 130. These two counters 61, 62 are connected with two relays 63, 64 which may start the motor 41 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The construction of the counters 61, 62 is such that they determine the discrepancy between the expected number of cigarettes which should be delivered by the belts 13, 13a and the actual number of cigarettes. For example, if the counters detect a difference of plus or minus cigarettes, they will start the motor 41 in a sense to adjust the hood 3 upwardly if the actual number of cigarettes exceeds the expected num- 4 ber, or downwardly if the actual number of cigarettes entering the magazine 1 is less than the number which is contemplated. When the number of cigarettes actually delivered by the belt 13 or 1311 exceeds the expected number, the counter 61 or 62 will energize the relay 63. The relay 64 is energized when the counter 61 or 62 detects that the actual number of cigarettes fed to the magazine 1 per certain unit of time is less than the expected number. The relays 63, 64 are adjusted to operate the motor 41 for a period of time which corresponds exactly to such movement of the hood 3 as is needed to compensate for the discrepancy. For example, the hood 3 will be lifted or lowered to an extent to compensate for a discrepancy of plus or minus 100 cigarettes. The counters 61, 62 energize the relays 63, 64 with such delay as is necessary to take into account the time required for the counted cigarettes to advance from the counters to the magazine 1.

If the counter 61 or 62 detects a discrepancy in a sense that the belt 13 or 13a delivers more cigarettes than is warranted by the momentary speed of the cigarette machine 136) or 131, it energizes the relay 63 which completes the circuit of the motor 41 through conductors 37, 65, 38 and 42 whereby the transmission 40 rotates the spindle 110 in a sense to lift the hood 3 and to increase the distance between the uppermost layer of cigarettes in the magazine 1 and the batiies 1.3!). if the counter 61 or 62 detects a discrepancy in a sense that the belts 13, 13a deliver cigarettes at less than expected rate, the relay 64 is energized to complete the circuit of the motor 41 through conductors 37, 65, 39 and 42 whereby the transmission 40 causes the hood 3 to descend, together with the rollers 12, 12a and to reduce the distance between the discharge ends of the belts 13, 13a and the uppermost layer of cigarettes in the magazine 1.

It is clear that the counters 61, 62 may be replaced by a suitable sensing device which actually scans the level of cigarettes in the magazine 1 and which energizes the relay 63 or 64 if the actual level deviates from the desired level. Such sensing device may be installed on the hood 3 close to the upper end of the side walls 4 and may comprise a mechanical sensing element or a suitable photoelectric cell. In other words, the counters d1, 62 shown in FIG. 3 may be replaced by a single sensing device or by a set of sensing devices which will energize the relays 63, 64 in the same way as the counters.

It is also clear that, even though the invention has been described in connection with an apparatus which comprises two cigarette machines, the improved transfer assembly is equally useful in apparatus wherein one or more cigar machines, filter machines or other machines for the production of rod-shaped articles are assembled with one or more packing or other consuming or processing machines. Furthermore, and as stated above, the transfer assembly may be readily modified to control the delivery of rod-shaped articles from three or more producing machines to a single consuming machine or to two or more consuming machines.

The switches 44, 49, 52 and 53 are equally useful in the apparatus which embodies the control unit of FIG. 2. Thus, even if the transmission 40 of PEG. 3 is replaced by the integrator transmission of FIG. 2, the switch 44 can control the motor 45 to reduce the speed of the packing machine 34, the switch 49 will serve to arrest the packing machine 34 when the hood 3 descends to the level 7, the switch 52 will adjust the motor 45 to operate the packing machine at maximum speed, and the switch 53 will arrest the cigarette machines 30, 31 when the hood rises to the level 8. In other words, the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 also comprises the motor 45, the transmission 48 and the switches 44, 49, 52 and 53.

The counter mechanism 85a of FIG. 2 corresponds to the counters 61, 62 of FIG. 3.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a very important advantage of the magazine l is that the zone between the inclined walls 2 and 4 which accommodates the bulk of stacked cigarettes is of rectangular outline, and that the hood 3 is adjustable in such a Way that this rectangular zone is increased or reduced while the volume of the remainder of the magazine (between the base Walls 2 and side walls 4) remains unchanged. Also, the cigarettes always descend from the same height so that, once the distance between the uppermost layer of cigarettes in the magazine 1 and the end turns (discharge ends) of the belts 13, 13a is selected with a view to avoid any damage to or misalignment of the cigarettes, this distance will remain unchanged regardless of adjustments in the position of the hood 3. This is due to the fact that the rollers 12, 12a are mounted on the carrier 9 and, therefore, are compelled to share all vertical adjustments of the hood. The inclination of the side walls 4 on the hood 3 is selected in such a Way that these Walls prevent the formation of cavities in the stack of cigarettes contained in the magazine 1.

When the apparatus operates normally, the lower end face of the rear wall 6 will be located somewhere between the lines 16 and 17, i.e., the machines 30, 31 or 130, 131, 134 will operate at normal speed. The lower end face of the wall 6 will move outside of the range between the lines 16, 17 only at such times when the volume 12 of the magazine ll should undergo substantial changes, e.g., when cigarette machines should operate at maximum speed, when the cigarette machines are arrested, or when the packing machine is arrested.

By way of example, the magazine 1 of FIG. 1 may be constructed and dimensioned in such a way that it will accommodate a maximum of about 7,000 cigarettes. Thus, when the hood 3 is in the median position of FIG. 1, the magazine will accommodate about 3,500 cigarettes and is then movable upwardly or downwardly through a distance of about 300 mm. in order to reach the upper level 3 or the lower level '7. The packing machine 34 is atranged to pack 20 cigarettes at a time, i.e., this machine will consecutively receive batches each of which contain 20 cigarettes. If the machine 34 is capable of making 250 packs per minute, the magazine 1 will discharge 5,000 cigarettes per minute. If a single cigarette machine were capable of producing 2,500 cigarettes per minute, two machines 30, 31 would suffice to satisfy the requirements of the packing machine 34. However, if a single cigarette machine can deliver less than 2,500 cigarettes per minute, the machine 34 must be fed by three or more cigarette machine. It is now assumed that the packing machine 34 receives cigarettes from three cigarette machines each of which is constructed to normally deliver 1,670 cigarettes per minute. Thus, and also assuming that all three cigarette machines are arrested simultaneously at the time the magazine 1 is filled halfway (i.e., at the time the magazine contains about 3,500 cigarettes because the hood 3 is in the position shown in FIG. 1), the packing machine 34 will be able to operate at normal speed for an interval of time which equals 3,500 divided by 5,000 or approximately 42 seconds (0.7 minute). As a rule, such short interval of times does not suffice to effect repairs or even to replace an empty reel with a fresh reel of cigarette wrapper tape. However, if the operator insures that the magazine 1 is filled to capacity, i.e., that the hood 3 rises to the level 8, the interval during which all cigarette machines may remain idle (while the packing machine .34 operates at normal speed) may be doubled to about 84- seconds because the magazine then accommodates about 7,000 cigarettes whereas the packing machine requires about 5,000 cigarettes per minute. The manner in which the operator may completely fill the magazine 1 (either by manipulating the hand wheel 97 of FIG. 2 or by depressing the pushbutton 55 of FIG. 3) has been described hereinabove. Of course, the length of the interval will be increased if the operator decides to arrest one cigarette machine or to arrest all cigarette machines at the time the packing machine operates at less than normal speed.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for manipulating cigarettes and analogous rod-shaped articles, comprising conveyor means for ad vancing a supply of articles, said conveyor means having an article-discharging portion which is movable up and down; a magazine arranged to accumulate a floating store of articles and having an inlet disposed below said discharging portion to receive articles therefrom and an outlet through which the articles are evacuated from the magazine so that the upper level of the floating store of articles in the magazine moves up and down; and control means includin means for detecting changes in the upper level of the floating store in said magazine due to the up and down movement thereof and displacing means for moving said discharging portion as a function of such changes in such a manner as to move said discharging portion upvv'ardly when said level moves upwardly and to move it downwardly when said level moves down- Wardly.

2. Apparatus for manipulating cigarettes and analogous rod-shaped articles, comprising conveyor means for advancing a supply of articles, said conveyor means having an article-discharging portion which is movable up and down; a magazine arranged to accumulate a floating store of articles and having an inlet disposed below said discharging portion and an outlet, said magazine comprising a first portion and a second portion movable up and down with reference to said first portion, said inlet being provided in one of said last mentioned portions and said outlet being provided in the other of said last mentioned portions; and control means including means for detecting changes in upper level of the floating store in said magazine and displacing means for moving said discharging portion as a function of such changes.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means is arranged to change the position of said discharging portion in direct proportion to changes in the upper level of the floating store in said magazine so that the distances covered by articles descending from said conveyor means through said inlet remain unchanged irrespective of the exact level of articles in said floating store.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises means for advancing the articles sideways toward said discharging portion.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the crosssection of said magazine varies intermediate said inlet and said outlet.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means comprises a reciprocable carrier for said discharging portion.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet is located at a level above said outlet.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said magazine is located in a substantially vertical plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,845,190 7/1958 Creuzburg 214-17 2,928,522 3/1960 Anderson 21417 3,147,846 9/1964 Huntoon.

ROBERT G. SHERIDIAN, Primary Examiner 

